Hi,
New here!
I am reading Denise Zimmermann’s Wicca and Witchcraft and I am learning a lot. Really a good book if anyone is interested.
Denise has a list of tools to be used in our Craft. One in particular is proving to be very difficult to find:an athame. Long story short, I need suggestions. I need one and can’t find it. Maybe someone can help me find alternative tool.
Thank you for your time!!!
Re: Can?t find an athame! By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 3 Oct 01, 2023
Hi Denise. Remember that our ancestors, particularly traditional Witches, did not have access to fancy tools. They used those they had at hand. Any kitchen knife could be an athame or a clay bowl a chalice. So don't get wrapped up in the commercialization of buying special tools. I remember doing a small ritual in a restaurant one time with the butter knife as an athame, a water glass as a chalice, a shaker of salt as representing Earth, and some matches as Fire. It is the intent that matters most, not the worrying about having a fancy tool.
Sure, the books say that an athame must be a double-edged, black-handled knife. And some day you might find one just like this. But in the meantime, simply use what you have on hand just like our ancestors did.. My first athame was actually a letter opener. It worked just fine because I blessed it and named it my athame. Once again, intent makes it so. You can take any sort of kitchen knife or a letter opener and make it into your athame.
But if you want to buy something special that fits your image of an athame better, the shop on this site carries a number of different one of different prices. You can find them at https://www.spellsofmagic.com/shop_search.html?query=athame
I agree. What defines any object as a magical tool is your conscious choice to use it as one. They are symbic representations of different aspects of intent, purpose, and function.
Athames are for expressing effort of will(determination), authority, direction, and the act of cutting or severing. Think about the many things a sharp edge is used for, and how those functions might have a use in magic. And also consider how there might be many forms of sharp edges, all specialized to do certain things really well, but each still holds great versatility. In the end an edge is an edge, the rest is a question of style.
My first athame was a folding knife I used toclean and shape my first wand. I also had an un-sharp letter opener as a symbolic athame for my altar. Being a little bit of a weaponry-buff and also a big-bit of a geek, I have also used a spear as an athame (which was essentially a wooden broom handle with a home-forged spear-tip a friend gave me jammed onto the end).
And, after a couple years of saving birthday/Christmas gift money's I obtained a professionally (if mass-produced) made viking rider sword by Paul Chen (Hanwei). My pride and joy and the first athame I claimed and dedicated specifically for magical use. Blessed, anointed, awakened, and it leaves its sheath for no other activity other than the occasional clean and oil.
So, yes. Your athame can very-much be whatever you have to hand at the time, while you look for what you want to use as your forever-tool. If you want one at all.
Many people are content with recognising them as the tool it is. ..."Any hammer will do so long as it drives the nail".
While others like to have their own special tool, to bring out on special occasions when they really mean it. ..."This is my custom-shaped and polished forge-hammer I use just for finishing my pieces. Look here! I etched the symbol of Hephaestus onto the side so every strike is in his name!"
Thank you for your reply! I understand. I actually have something that might have more meaning to me, until I find something else… or maybe that would me mine athame… so mote it be!
Get a knife that you feel a certain bond with. Most people say use it only for magick, and keep it apart. I picked up an AK bayonet in Manzhouli, China (across the border from Russia) years ago. Works fine for both magick and watermelons. Attitude is the key.
